PGA Tour Series: China relocates
tournament over coronavirus
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[February 05, 2020]
(Reuters) - The PGA Tour
Series-China said on Tuesday it is moving its global qualifying
tournament out of China because of the coronavirus epidemic.
The 72-hole qualifying tournament originally scheduled for Feb.
25-28 in Haikou, China will now take place at Laguna Golf Bintan in
Lagoi, Indonesia, according to the PGA Tour Series-China, which
serves as a feeder tour for the Korn Ferry Tour.
The newly identified coronavirus outbreak in China has killed over
400 people, with more than 20,000 infected.
"We felt this change was the best course of action considering
what's happening in China right now," PGA Tour Series-China
Executive Director Greg Carlson said in a news release.
"Our existing relationship with the golf course and its staff made
this a relatively seamless change. It is a very good golf course,
and we very much appreciate Laguna Golf Bintan and its leadership
accommodating us and helping this come together so quickly."
The event, one of three qualifiers for which players can earn status
for the 2020 season, is the latest sporting event affected by the
coronavirus, which has been declared a global emergency by the World
Health Organization.
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The first qualifier, open only to Chinese passport holders, was held
last month in Guangzhou while the third event is set for March 3-6
in Thailand. The final two events are open to players from outside
China.
Tour officials in China and at PGA Tour headquarters in Florida will
assess the coronavirus situation and its potential impact on PGA
TOUR Series-China, which earlier said it would start its 2020 season
in Sanya, China, on March 26-29.
"The health and well-being of our players, staff, fans and all who
are associated with PGA TOUR Series-China tournaments is of the
utmost importance to us," said Carlson.
"We will continue to monitor what’s happening in China and how it
might affect the start of our regular season."
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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